Eels- how do you like 'em?

[bobber]

so I've always been a lure guy..... in fact, I tell people I friggin hate bait. it stinks, is a PITA to take care of, take too long to catch, etc etc etc

but I've been convinced (recently) that eels aren't so bad (aside from being expensive at CaptMorgans in Madison.....)

but do you guys like them all lively and jumpy? or half-dead and easy to control?? my ol' bud Pete (RIP) used to beat them up a bit and fish them (with just a little curl in the tail). last night they worked either way-

just seeing whats the current wisdom on this (and since I'm so stoopid....)

[PaulS]

I like them lively. However, usually by the 3 -4 cast they become docile enough that they won't wrap themselves up into knots.

[Clogston29]

lively and on the bigger side, then smacked on a rock about 1/2 way down the body to slow them down

[tlapinski]

For me it really depends on the spot I am fishing on a given tide. Some places you need a big, lively eel to dig in the current and make it to the bottom. Fish a dead eel there and it will do little more than spin in the current and ineffectively hang in the land of bluefish. Other spots a lively eel will do little more than bury itself in the rocks and cause headaches; this is where dead or nearly dead eels reign supreme. Further, my preference changes at the same spot as the tide builds, peaks and slows back down. To say one way works best across the board to me says you either fish one type of shoreline structure all the time or you are not taking full advantage of what your spots may offer.

[Finaddict]

Yeah ... have to agree with Toby ... while there's no question that he fishes with them more than I do, I have found times when fish were size specific on eels ... incidences such as when the bigger livelier eels were not producing, I switched to the remaining small shoe string eels in my bag, barely moving and barely had to crank my reel and the fish turned on ... not sure if they just wanted smaller eels or a pod of fish just showed up when I made the switch, but that particular evening the smaller eels made the difference ...

[eelskimmer]

Take it from the master, you're all right.
My handle says it all.

[FishermanTim]

I just had Unagi for the first time, so I like my eels cooked and served with rice and a side of kimchee!

[spence]

Couple of good casters in that tank...8 min in...


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[Saltheart]

Fresh and wiggly but smacked on a rock before hooking to stun them a while. I think scuffing their skin a little on the rock also helps get a little blue to show and releases some scent.

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

I like them in Asian porn
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[fishbones]

Originally Posted by WESTPORTMAFIA

I like them in Asian porn
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Lmao.
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[5/0]

Originally Posted by WESTPORTMAFIA

I like them in Asian porn
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F in Jay lmfao!!!!
Always kicking up a notch.
Andy/Bruce nice vid,I would bet that would be killah at night.

As mentioned earlier, I put mine in a soft sided cooler with an Ice pack so there pretty lethargic when you go to use them,but if you get the shoe string size "which is what I always get"not by design. anyway the shoe string size can ball up a lot so with a rag hold-em by the head and smash-em half way down the body on a rock this will brake there back and prevent them from balling up but still move enough for a strike.

What I have found that when they wiggle a lot the fish can feel the vibrations and then hone in on them.
While drifting them in the canal I have felt an eel going ballistic and then a silent pause in movement,then you feel the slam of the fish....

Example;
The eel is trying to free its self from the hook violently but in doing so its atrackting the fish and when its to late, it can sense the fish comming
Within a close proximity and stops moving but at that point its to late.

Rigged eels will do well in strong current because you can reach bottom with presizion and other areas because of weight,and offers great movement do to holes in the head of the jig.
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[ivanputski]

so many variables to fishing eels... Live, dead, rigged, large, medium, etc...

For plug-only purists who may think that simply putting an eel on your hook= automatic cow bass i would beg to differ (but its a good place to start!) .

[DZ]

The last two weeks I’ve really enjoyed the freedom of not carrying eels with me as the plugging has been very effective. Then while plug casting last night I switched back to using eels and the reason for doing so was once again reinforced.

Question: What’s the difference between using plugs and eels? Answer: About 10 pounds on average.

Morto Anguilla

[zimmy]

dead w/ two hooks

[DZ]

Originally Posted by zimmy

dead w/ two hooks

Zimmy,
Curious how you rig them with two hooks?

DZ

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by DZ

Zimmy,
Curious how you rig them with two hooks?

DZ

Just regular rigged eel. I use hog rings though because it is so easy.

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ht=zimmy+rings

[GattaFish]

Big fat and dead.
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[Saltheart]

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ht=rigged+eels

There are also posts I did around 97 on the wmi board if you can search that far backk still and more when I posted similar stuff back when Tim started sol. The sol thread had some discussions about why I prefer this method to using squids in terms of how you fish them and how imo the squids make it hard to fish them best because the squid can get hung up if you drag them across the bottom.

Do some searches , its worth the effort.

And then of course there are the DZ eel bobs.

More than one way to skin a cat!

[Mike P]

Keep them on ice, and they'll be dopey enough to hook and cast without balling up. Once they hit the water, they wake up, so keep tension on the line all through the retrieve. After 3 casts, no more problems. So don't dilly-dally after your first couple. Out of the water, cast right away.

[Liv2Fish]

I'm in the process of designing and making a custom made set of riggie hooks with attachment points for zip ties and added weight. I found some very thin but very strong sip ties.

I'll post photos and steps once I perfect it.

[tysdad115]

Apparently it helps to make stupid faces at them, he thinks it works anyways.

[Slipknot]

I like them on a hook

[tysdad115]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

I like them on a hook

Googan!

[bart]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

I like them on a hook

Jig that cordell and eel combo!

[ProfessorM]

Bruce personifies desperate times call for desperate measures. Get some sleep Bruce.

[Liv2Fish]

Anyone know where to bulk order the mustad 8/0 and 9/0 tinned siwash hooks? All I can find is the VMC or stainless.